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447th Bomb Group Newsletter Summer 2011
Insidethis issue 447th Directory..........................2Presidents Letter ......................3Mail Call.....................................3Footlocker..................................4Dues Notice...............................5447th Reunion: England....1, 6-7447th Reunion: France.............8St. Louis Trip Details............9-10Reunion Form (St. Louis)........11Liberty Belle .......................12-13Book Review...........................14Contributions...........................14New Members.........................15Membership Application ........15Check Six ................................16
n The 447th Bomb Groupnewsletter is published quarterlyby the 447th Bomb Group, Inc., a 501(c)4 non-profit organization.
Phot
o by
Ste
ve H
eeb
Liberty Belle, August 2010Meet me inSt. Louis
Return to RattlesdenReturn to Rattlesdenn By Melanie Bussel
It doesnt seem possible to top the 2009
reunion, but we did it!
The troops arrived at Heathrow within
an hour or two, so there wasnt the lag
time waiting for stragglers. Off we went,
across the beautiful English countryside to
our temporary home at the Ramada in
charming Bury St. Edmunds.
Our guide, Janet (a terrific organizer and
source of information), streamlined the
check-in process so we all got to our
rooms, luggage sorted out, in record time.
We were joined that evening by the
447th UK members who welcomed us
The 8th Air Force will hold its annual reunion
Oct. 11-16 in St. Louis, Mo.
Information about the reunion, agenda and
tour options can be found on pages 9-10 of this
newsletter and the registration form is on page
11. Due date to register is Sept. 9, but you also
may register online. See the form for details.
Veterans from the
447th BG visit the
Cambridge
American
Cemetery and
Memorial during
the reunion trip.
Some of the 3,809
headstones for
fallen American
servicemen can be
seen in the
background at
right.
Continued on page 6
4 4 7 t h B G N E W S L E T T E R J 3 J 2 0 1 1 S U M M E R I S S U E
Joseph Ferris passed on this request from Jeff Chamberlain
in Rattlesden:
Hi. I hope you can help.My name is Jeff Chamberlain and up until April
15, 2011 I was the landlord of the "Brewers Arms"pub in Rattlesden. Ever since WW2 there have beenphotos of the crews of the 477 in the pub.
As you may be aware Eddie Leighty was one ofthe guys that remained in Rattlesden after the warand married a local girl.
He was a member of the crew of "FeatherMerchant" Since I left the pub (I've recentlyretired) the new landlord has destroyed thephotos!!!
As you can imagine, this has greatly upset a lot ofpeople including me.
My reason for contacting you is to find out ifthere is a possibility of getting some copies? Maybeyou can help please.
Kindest regards,Jeff Chamberlain.Telephone:- 01359 240480.
Joseph adds: This exactly why we continue this association
and ask for 2nd generations to get inolved. We can't lose our
history. Some people out there do not realize its importance,
and this case is a prime example.
n If you have a message youd like us to consider for
future editions of the newsletter please send it to:
447@insidetrackmagazine.com.
4 4 7 t h B G N E W S L E T T E R J 2 J 2 0 1 1 S U M M E R I S S U E
EXECUTIVE BOARDOF DIRECTORS President
Arnold Kushner
2110 Shannondale Drive
Audubon PA 19403
(610) 382-2092
E-mail: akush1028@aol.com
Vice-President
Norman Bussel
1739 Horton Road
Mohegan Lake, NY 10547
(914) 528-7147
E-mail: bussel@verizon.net
Treasurer/Membership Chairperson
Dean Sassaman
201 Jackpine Drive
Michigan City, IN 46360-2713
(219) 874-5117
E-mail: dean447@sbcglobal.net
Secretary
Melanie Bussel
1739 Horton Road
Mohegan Lake, NY 10547
(914) 528-7147
E-mail: bussel@verizon.net
DIRECTORS Director
Russell Chase
3147-D Via Vista
Laguna Woods, CA 92637-8812
(949) 837-8453
E-mail: russelldchase@comline.com
Director/PX/Reunion Coordinator
George R. Hoidra
6504 Old Sandy Spring Road
Laurel, MD 20707-2954
(301) 953-2813
E-mail: ghoidra@yahoo.com
Director Emeritus
Murray Codman
4341 Redwood Avenue
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292-6427
(310) 827- 7277
E-mail: big_shorty@comcast.net
Honorary Board Member
Roger Watts (UK)
Phone: 011-44-144-973-6687
COMMUNICATIONS & ARCHIVES Newsletter Editor
Steve Heeb
1718 24th Ave Ct SE
Puyallup, WA 98374
(253) 222-6400
E-mail: 447@insidetrackmagazine.com
Webmaster/Historical Archives
Joseph Ferris, Jr.
5046 Happy Hollow Drive
Manchester, MI 48158
(734) 428-0357
E-mail: joeferrisjr@gmail.com
NexGen Representative
Debra Wetherald
PO Box 1976
Fallbrook, CA 92088-1976
(909) 561-6776
E-mail: dgwetherald@aol.com
447th Association (UK)
Ernest Osborne
3 Oliver Road
Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk IP 33 3JH
United Kingdom
Phone: 011-44-128-476-2899
447th Bomb Group Directory
DEBREIFINGN E W S L E T T E R E D I T O R S O B S E R V A T I O N S
FLIGHTPLAN4 4 7 T H B O M B G R O U P P R E S I D E N T S M E S S A G E
Greetings fellow Vets, 2nd Gens and
friends
Another memorable reunion with our
UK friends and Wissous "amis was en-
joyed by nine vets, four of whom were
POWS and two first timers. Wives, 41
2nd Gens, together with presidents
emeriti Russ Chase and Murray (Big
Shorty) Codman made this a festive oc-
casion. Of course, Dennis and Marcelle
Grant never miss these events. Unfortu-
nately, the typical damp English
weather precluded the Glider Club from
being airborne and offering rides to all.
I laid wreathes at both the Rattlesden
Memorial (in pouring rain) and at Mad-
ingly Cemetery (sunshine). At the final
dinner, Roger Watts and I expressed our
gratitude to the BG and the UK contin-
gent. We both looked forward to 2013
and being together again.
At Wissous, we were again feted by
the local citizens. Monsieur Ren
Moulin, a teenager when the Hi Jinx
went down avoiding the town, was
present. He painted the picture depict-
ing the action. After the speeches by the
local officials, I spoke of the gallant
heroics of the crew and Melanie Bussel
did the same in French. With the addi-
tional experience of visiting Normandy
and Paris, we will all remember this re-
union for a long time Those who
missed this unforgettable moment in
our lives should plan for 2013.
We hope to see you at the 8th Air
Force Reunion in St. Louis in October
of this year and the reunion in Houston,
Texas in 2012, probably in July.
Best wishes to all and plan to join us
in celebrating our next reunion.
Arnold Kushner
President, 447th Bomb Group
Looks like a fun time was had by all
at the 447th BG reunion at Rattlesden
and the follow-up excursion to Wis-
sous. For those that missed that trip (or
still have some energy left) the 8th AF
reunion in St. Louis may be just the
ticket for seeing old friends and meet-
ing new ones one more time this year.
Although I was unable to attend the
England get-together in July, I did
have a few memorable opportunities
this summer that I would like to share.
First was the chance to take my son
Mitchell to see Liberty Belle while itwas here in Seattle over the Memorial
Day weekend. It was his first chance
to walk through an actual B-17 and he
definitely was excited to see first-hand
the type of plane his great-grandfather
had flown with the 447th BG so many
years ago. You can see a picture of
Mitchell inside Liberty Belle on theback page of this newsletter.
Sadly, we had no idea that only six
weeks later Liberty Belle would begone forever (see pages 12-13).
I also had a chance to take a flight
aboard the B-17 Nine-O-Nine and willeagerly share a detailed account of my
experience in a future newsletter.
I also was present when the Flying
Heritage Museum rolled out Paul
Allens faithfully restored FW-190 and
Bf-109 for a flight over Paine Field in
Everett, Wash. Im glad they were on
our side this time!
MAILCALLW H A T S O N Y O U R M I N D ?
4 4 7 t h B G N E W S L E T T E R J 4 J 2 0 1 1 S U M M E R I S S U E
n Not to be morbid about it, but weve all lost friends
over the last few years. The tales of World War II
are being buried every day.
Its your responsibility to make sure that your
legacy is not lost forever. One way to do this is
to grab a grandchild with a computer videocam
or camera and re-count your 447th exploits.
Or get an old-fashioned tape recorder and
record your stories. Youd be amazed at what your
wife and kids dont know about what you did.
Copies can be sent to the Veterans History Project
at the Library of Congress or the 8th Air Force
Museum in Savannah.
Do it NOW!
4 4 7 t h B G N E W S L E T T E R J 5 J 2 0 1 1 S U M M E R I S S U E
What can any one say about the loss of
a dear friend after knowing them for so
many years? We were kids together,
fighting a war. After we returned to the
states, we married our sweethearts and
raised families in different parts of the
country. Then, like magic, we were re-
united through the 447th BG renions,
and have grown older together in com-
radery.
Yes, what can any one say about my
friend, Bill Rudisill?
I met Bill when High Jinx and GroundPounder flew together from Harvard,Neb. to Rattlesden, England in Novem-
ber of 1943.
The two B-17s were assigned as
neighbors on the same hardstand. I was
the radio operator on the GroundPounder, and our crew Chief was GlenOuren. Bill was the crew chief for HighJinx. Bill decided there was too muchtime wasted going back and forth to their
quonset huts, so the two of them set up a
two-man tent between the two planes
heated by a home made pot belly stove,
using old parts and plane fuel. Not the
safest set up, but Bill and Glen were pre-
pared to do whatever it took.
They worked all night in order to keep
our planes flying, took cat naps by day,
and seldom left the area in constant
watch for our return after each and every
mission.
After one of our most dangerous mis-
sions, I asked Bill how many holes he
and Glen found in our plane, and he said,
"Well, Chase, don't really know. We
stopped countin at a thousand"
To this day, there is a farm house that
sits, just yards from our hardstand,
which is still there, as well.
Over the years, Bill and I reminisced
many times about our English friends
that added constant support to us. In
those days laundry was gathered and
thrown over the fence to the waiting
Mom and her four daughters, whose
father was serving with the British Army
in India.
The family refused to take money, but
Bill always did something special like
tuck candy in between the clothes or in
hidden pockets. He was aware of the
constant roar of engines all through the
night, and thankful that the surrounding
families were more than understanding,
and so helpful.
Bill was likable, and made friends
quickly. We all know of one 8-year-old
boy, who became Bills Right Hand
Man.
After many years, they re-met, and
even though they were not certain of
their connection, the reunion represented
WILLIAM RUDISILL passed away on June16, 2011 in Lake Ridge, VA at age 90. Bill wasraised in South Carolina and lived in SanAntonio, TX until 2006. Bill leaves behind hisspecial friend, Ernestine Friese of Lake Ridge;daughters Anniell Miller of Burke, VA and CharlaRudisill of Brookline, MA, a sister, Anniell Bevisof Clemson, SC and four grandchildren.
FOOTLOCKERS T O R I E S F R O M T H E G R E A T E S T G E N E R A T I O N
Bill Rudisill, pictured in front of original maintenance
buildings during the 447th BG reunion in 2009.
Cour
tesy
Deb
ra W
ethe
rald
In memory ofBill Rudisill
the many children that came to the base
before and after school everyday to help.
Many of them were local children living
on the farms surrounding the base. Oth-
ers had been evacuated from London,
and were living with local Rattlesden
families.
The final survey was a mutual admira-
tion that will live on in history. The chil-
dren, so willing to help, squeezed into
tiny places to retrieve nuts and bolts, and
soldiers, like Bill, were so kind giving
children candy, things, and something
important to do, to keep their minds off
of such dangerous times.
Bill seldom missed a 447th BG re-
union. He always dressed in his WWII
uniform, which still fit. It included an
Eisenhower Jacket, and I could always
spot him a mile away. Return to Rattles-
den 2011 in July was wonderful, but
something was missing. It was my friend
Bill Rudisill.
Our condolences to the family he
loved so much, and to his many friends
who loved him.
Bill was a great American who wore
his head HIGH and PROUD. He was
truly one of The Greatest Generation,
and will be sorely missed.
In Memory of Bill:
Keep'em Flyin
Russ Chase
Russ Chase
and Bill
Rudisill
together at
Rattlesden
during the
2009 reunion.
Bill seldom missed a 447th BG reunion. He always dressed in his WWII uniform, which still fit. It included an Eisenhower Jacket, and I could always
spot him a mile away. Return to Rattlesden 2011 in Julywas wonderful, but something was missing.
It was my friend Bill Rudisill. Russ Chase
Cour
tesy
Deb
ra W
ethe
rald
Please rememberto pay your duesevery yearDear Comrades-in-Arms,
I can recall when my calendarwas marked by more social eventsthan medical appointments. Now,its just the opposite and Isometimes forget to keep up-to-date on other matters that are veryimportant to me.
Like my dues for the 447th BombGroup. If I dont send in my checkas soon as I receive my notice, itsimply slips my mind. Im surethats what happened to you thisyear. You set aside your notice andforgot that you intended to send inyour dues.
Our service with the 8th Air Forceduring WWII helped to achieve oneof the greatest victories in ourcountrys history. This is an honorthat we want to perpetuate, and weare so fortunate that many of oursons and daughters have steppedforward to help run the 447thorganization as we get older andour energies wane.
Its really not expensive to keepour group active, but we do needyour dues in order to keep sendingyou the 447th newsletter and paysome of the costs of our reunions,both in the U.S. and in England.
Please send in your dues of$20.00 now, while you have thisrequest in hand. No one knowsbetter than I, how easy it is toforget. Help us to keep alive thememory of all those who flew withus, into the wild blue yonder.
With warmest personal regards,Dean SassamanTreasurer, 447th Bomb Group
4 4 7 t h B G N E W S L E T T E R J 7 J 2 0 1 1 S U M M E R I S S U E4 4 7 t h B G N E W S L E T T E R J 6 J 2 0 1 1 S U M M E R I S S U E
447th Reunion 2011447th Reunion 2011Veterans and families return to Rattlesden
July 14-18, 2011
back for another reunion. They all
work incredibly hard to pull this off
every two years.
Its always delightful when we
have 447th members who have never
been back and there were two of
them on this trip. Carroll Knutsen
and Jim Prusa had never before come
to a reunion in England. Bet theyre
sorry they waited so long.
And there were 14 (count m 14!)
Kushners.
All in all, there were nine veterans,
four of whom had been POWs, at-
tending and our total was almost 50,
including some young folks who
made it into Bury almost every night.
One evening, after dinner, they had
to check out The Nutshell, the small-
est pub in the UK. Although a little
bleary-eyed in the mornings, they al-
ways made it on the coach on time.
Eagle Tours arranged visits to sev-
eral still-intact airbases on Friday.
The first one, home of the 446th BG,
a B-24 base, had a truly magnificent
museum display. They were gracious
enough to serve coffee, tea and bis-
cuits (read cookies). And you missed
seeing Melanies more-or-less ath-
letic forward roll as she tripped over
a guard rail near the memorial at the
end of their runway.
On to the East Anglia Aviation Her-
itage Center, where we were served
lunch. And finally, a trip to the home
of the 448th BG with a lovingly
maintained control tower, complete
with glass observation superstructure.
Back to base for dinner (the Ra-
madas food has improved dramati-
cally).
Saturday is the day everyone looks
forward to.
Off to Rattlesden.
As usual, the coach was met by a
cavalcade of WWII vehicles escort-
ing us onto the base. Unfortunately,
the weather didnt cooperate (i t
rained every daysometimes in
cloudbursts), so the gliders couldnt
go up. The visit started up with a
slide show in one of the still-extant
buildings, where we all cheered our
friends as they appeared in their
young glory, and mourned those who
have left us.
We then scrambled through the
raindrops to the Nissen hut which
houses the museum. The coach
brought us the third of a mile back to
the control tower, where the Glider
Club served a sandwich lunch. Be-
cause the rain just would not let up,
the group drove off to Lavenham, one
of the most perfectly preserved 16th
Century villages, for a quick tour.
The rain did let up in time for the
evenings barbecue, however, and
everyone snarfed down hamburgers,
grilled chicken and bangers, along
with home-made salads and dessert
goodies.
The next morning, it was off to
church, a traditional Anglican service
in St. Nicholas, Rattlesden.
This beautiful old (mid-13th Cen-
tury) wool church is one of the
most attractive in the area.
Our chaplain, Norm Bussel, read
the Old Testament lesson and some
of our members were startled to see a
familiar face in the soprano section
of the choir. We were saddened to
learn that Eddie Leightys widow,
Peggy had passed away that week.
The rain let up, so some folks could
stroll down through the graveyard,
past timbered and thatched houses to
the Village Hall, where a lunch pro-
vided by the town was served to the
accompaniment of 40s tunes by
Terry Blake, who played for US sol-
diers during the war in Ipswich.
The weather didnt hold, however,
and just as the ceremony was due to
start at the 447th memorial, the heav-
ens opened up. This wasnt the usual
gentle English rain, but a monsoon-
like downpour.
One young girl cadet, part of the
honor guard, looked as miserable as
any pre-teen girl could, but gamely
stayed at attention through the cloud-
burst.
We were all glad to get back on the
coach for the trip to nearby Felsham
for tea, courtesy of the British Le-
gion.
On Monday, we held our traditional
memorial service at the lovely Amer-
ican Cemetery at Madingly, just out-
side of Cambridge. Singing taps in
memory of our fallen friends is al-
ways moving for everybody.
The Superintendent had arranged
that flowers were placed on all 447th
grave markers, so we could pay our
respects to our comrades.
The Duxford Air Museum is a must
for anyone interested in aviation.
The American Hall is spectacular
and the crew of the Sally B, the onlyflying B-17 in the UK, always wel-
comes us.
Its thrilling to see our veterans
climb aboard, sit in the pilots seat
and be able to show their kids and
grandchildren the sights that were so
familiar all those years ago.
The youngsters (and some not-so-
young) listen raptly to the tales and
develop an appreciation of the trials
and victories of the Greatest Gener-
ation.
That evening, we bid farewell to
our English hosts, as well as to those
leaving for home in the morning. You
should a been there.
RETURN TO RATTLESDENContinued from Page 1
Veterans look over some of the armored vehicles on display at the airfield.
Norm Bussell takes a
seat in the cockpit of the
B-17 Sally B, the last
remaining truly flying
Flying Fortress left in
England. Though she
still wears the squadron
ID letters applied for the
movie Memphis Belle,
Sally B is a tribute to the
447th BG plane that
originally carried that
name during WWII.
Former 447th BG President, Russ Chase cuts a rug with one of the
ladies of Rattlesden. The iconic St. Nicholas church at Rattlesden.
Mel
anie
Bus
sel
Mel
anie
Bus
sel
Mel
anie
Bus
sel
Mel
anie
Bus
sel
4 4 7 t h B G N E W S L E T T E R J 9 J 2 0 1 1 S U M M E R I S S U E
REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONSSee choices (at right) and complete the Registration Form
noting your event choices and personal information. By
WWII GROUP, were asking for the group or unit in
which you served (specific Bomb Group, Fighter Group,
PRG, HQ, etc.). We use this information for tallying totals
for each group, nametags, and seating arrangements. If you
prefer to sit with a different group, please give us that infor-
mation too. Remit by mail with check or money order
payable to Armed Forces Reunions by September 9, 2011.
You may also register and pay with credit card online at
www.afr-reg.com/8afhs.
A $6 convenience fee will be added to online credit card
reservations. Forms received after September 9 will be ac-
cepted on a space available basis only. Hotel reservations
should also be made by September 9, 2011.
ARMED FORCES REUNIONS, INC. CANCELLATION POLICY
For attendees canceling reunion activities prior to the cut-
off date, Armed Forces Reunions, Inc. (AFR) shall process a
full refund less a $5 per person processing fee. Attendees
canceling reunion activities after the cut-off date will be re-
funded to the fullest extent that AFRs vendor commitments
and guarantees will allow, less a $5 processing fee. Cancella-
tions will only be taken Monday through Friday from
9:00am until 5:00pm Eastern Time, excluding holidays.
Please call (757) 625-6401 to cancel reunion activities and
obtain a cancellation code. Refunds processed 4-6 weeks
after reunion. Canceling your hotel reservation doesnt can-
cel your reunion activities.
MEALS / EVENTS CHOICESCHOICE #1 TOTAL PACKAGE $189
Package includes 7 hotel food functions starting with
breakfast on Thursday. Tours are separate.
CHOICE # 2 PARTIAL PACKAGE $134Package includes 5 hotel food functions starting with
breakfast on Friday. Tours are separate.
Breakfast menus: The continental breakfasts on Thursday
and Sunday include juice, breakfast breads, cereal, yogurt,
fruit, coffee, and tea. The breakfast buffets on Friday and
Saturday includes juice, fruit, assorted breakfast breads,
eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, coffee, and tea.
CHOICE #3 INDIVIDUAL EVENTSFriday Rendezvous Dinner at $39 and Saturday Banquet at
$44 can be purchased separately, but are included in both
packages above.
TOUR OPTIONS
Tours and trips are described on the next page of this
newsletter. Prices are listed on the registration form on page
11. Driver and Guide gratuities are not included in the tour
prices.
8th AF Reunion 2011Sheraton Westport Lakeside Chalet; St. Louis, MO
Tuesday October 11th Sunday October 16th 2011
8th AF Reunion 2011
n George Hoidra asks that everyone who will be driving to the
reunion in St. Louis please bring as many ice chests as they can
for the Hospitality Suite. The 447th
has the best combined hospitality
room of all the Groups attending, bar
none, and it is because the people
help out in several ways. This will be
a big help and much appreciated.
4 4 7 t h B G N E W S L E T T E R J 8 J 2 0 1 1 S U M M E R I S S U E
n By Melanie BusselThe 15 members of the 447th who left
Jolly Olde England for France certainly
understood some of the trials of those
heroic GIs who landed on the Normandy
beaches 67 years ago. We were all in the
comfort of our English coach, but the
weather was just as bad. It was rain, rain
and more rain.
After arriving at Cherbourg by ferry,
our English driver, Tony, driving an Eng-
lish coach on the wrong side of the
road, took us through the picturesque
countryside to the pretty town of St. Lo.
Our hotel for the next few nights, the
Mercure, was comfortable and looked
out on the river as well as the old city
fortifications and fort. Its a small town
and we ran into each other frequently as
we sampled the various restaurants.
One of the reasons that Eagle Tours
had chosen Janet for our guide was that
she speaks French (and Italian) fluently.
It really came in handy as she negotiated
lunches and dinners, and dealt with vari-
ous hotel personnel.
The first morning, we eagerly took off
for the lovely town of Ste. Mere Eglise,
with its effigy of the American para-
trooper caught up on the church steeple.
There was plenty of time for photos
and Melanie even attended mass (in
French) in the church. The few commu-
nicants didnt seem to mind that her re-
sponses were in English.
From there, we went on (in the rain) to
the D-Day beaches. First to Utah, then to
Junoone of the Canadian landing
areas, where there is a newly-opened
museum devoted to all the beaches, not
just the Canadians.
At the end of our visit to the Museum,
the four veterans who had come to
France, Norm Bussel, Russ Chase, Mur-
ray Codman and Arnold Kushner, were
formally presented with Certificates of
Citizenship of Juno Beach as well as
medals commemorating the landings
which were hung around their necks. It
was a terrific gesture and completely un-
expected. Our next stop was Omaha
Beach, where we had a lovely lunch and
then went on to the Am erican Cemetery,
made famous by Spielbergs Saving
Private Ryan. The American Cemetery
in Cambridge has a little more than
4,000 graves; Omaha has almost 9,400
graves.
Its a solemn and beautiful place, over-
looking the landing beach itself. Looking
down, its hard to imagine how any of
the brave men survived. Our last stop of
the day was Point du Hoc, where Ameri-
can Marines rappelled up the cliffs to
take out the pillboxes at the top. The
youngsters happily scrambled into the
underground bunkers.
The next day, we went to see the Pega-
sus Bridge at Arromanches, then on to
Bayeux. Viewing the medieval tapestry
is made unforgettable by listening to a
panel-by-panel explanation. Several of
us took advantage of the souvenir shop
and purchased ponchos to ward off the
rain. We went on to our hotel at Orly
Airport, just outside of Paris.
Sunday was the day we all looked for-
ward to. On February 6, 1944, a crew of
10 men from the 447th Bomb Group
were hit on the way to Evreax-Fauville.
Two of them, Pilot Lt. Allen Reed and
Navigator Lt. James Campbell, were al-
ready killed by anti-aircraft fire.
Co-pilot Lt. Arthur Clark gave the
order for the remaining crew to bail out
while he tried to land the crippled air-
craft. Although he managed to avoid the
town of Wissous, thus saving the lives of
innocent civilians, he was killed when he
crash-landed into a grove of trees. The
heroic action of these airmen is remem-
bered by a monument to the four slain
officers in a park where the plane
landed.
We arrived at the Mairie, the town
hall, and were met by the Deputy Mayor
and a trio of horse-drawn carriages. The
four veterans were seated in one con-
veyance and the rest of us climbed up on
the other two. We clopped through the
village to the park, where a memorial
ceremony was held commemorating the
crew members who died that day.
A touching poem was read in French,
translated by the authors granddaughter,
who had just passed her exams in Eng-
lish.
Our President, Arnold Kushner, made
a short speech, repeated in French by
Melanie (who had the foresight to have
it translated in advance by Norms
niece), followed by singing both the
Marseillaise and the Star Spangled Ban-
ner. This was all topped of by a reception
(champagne!) in the Mairie.
We all went off to lunch in a nearby
town, graciously given by Eagle Tours.
It was a moving and wonderful end to
a great trip. Vive la France!
The heroic action ofthese airmen is
remembered by amonument to the fourslain officers in a park
where the planelanded.
Referring to monument inWissous, France, in honor of the 447th BG crew that had
avoided crashing their damagedB-17 into the town.
447th BGreturns toWissous
This
info
rmati
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vailable
online a
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ww
.8th
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/re
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4 4 7 t h B G N E W S L E T T E R J 13 J 2 0 1 1 S U M M E R I S S U E
Directly below the B-17 was a farmers
field and the decision was made to land im-
mediately. Approximately 1 minute and 40
seconds from the radio report of the fire, the
B-17 was down safely on the field. Within
that 1:40 time frame, the crew shutdown
and feathered the number 2 engine, acti-
vated the engines fire suppression system,
lowered the landing gear and performed an
on-speed landing. Bringing the B-17 to a
quick stop, the crew and passengers quickly
and safely exited the aircraft. Overhead in
the T-6, Cullen professionally coordinated
and directed the firefighting equipment which
was dispatched by Aurora Tower to the land-
ing location.
Unlike the sensational photos that you
have all seen of the completely burned B-17
on the news, you will see from photos taken
by our crew that our Liberty Belle was un-
damaged by the forced landing and at the
time of landing, the wing fire damage was
relatively small. The crew actually unloaded
bags, then had the horrible task of watching
the aircraft slowly burn while waiting for the
fire trucks to arrive. There were high hopes
that the fire would be extinguished quickly
and the damage would be repairable. Those
hopes were diminished as the fire trucks
deemed the field too soft to cross due to the
areas recent rainfall. So while standing by
our burning B-17 and watching the fire trucks
parked at the fields edge, they sadly
watched the wing fire spread to the aircrafts
fuel cells and of course, you all have seen the
end result. There is no doubt that had the
fire equipment been able to reach our air-
craft, the fire would have been quickly extin-
guished and our Liberty Belle would have
been repaired to continue her worthwhile
mission.
Let me go on the record by thanking the
flight crew for their professionalism. Their ac-
tions were nothing short of heroic and their
quick thinking, actions and experience led to
a successful outcome to this serious in-
flight emergency. John and Bud (and Cullen)
did a remarkable job under extreme circum-
stances and performed spectacularly. While
the leading news stories have repeatedly re-
ported the crash of our B-17, fact is they
made a successful forced landing and the air-
craft was ultimately consumed by fire. Air-
planes are replaceable but people are not
and while the aircrafts loss is tragic, it was a
successful result.
This leads me into discussing the excep-
tional safety record of the Boeing B-17 and
to hopefully squash the naysayers who
preach we should not be flying these types of
aircraft. Since we first flew the Liberty Belle
in December of 2004, we have flown more
than 20,000 passengers throughout the
country and if you count our historic trip to
Europe in 2008, worldwide. Of the other
touring B-17s, some of which that have been
touring for over 20 years, they have safely
flown hundreds of thousands of people. The
aircrafts safety record is spectacular and I
am certain the overall cause of our issue,
which is under investigation, will not tarnish
that safety record. In fact, as many of you
know, other B-17 have suffered significant
damage (although not as bad as ours!), only
to be re-built to fly again. From a passenger
carrying standpoint, I can think of few air-
craft that offer the same level of safety as
the four-engine Flying Fortress. As men-
tioned earlier, in-flight fires are extremely
rare and certainly could affect any powered
aircraft under certain circumstances. I would
put my children today in any of the other
touring B-17s to go fly. I suggest to anyone
that was thinking of doing so when a B-17
visits your area to do so without giving our
loss any thought.
There is wild speculation going on as to
the cause of our fire and the affect to other
operators. Please let the investigation run its
course and report the findings. The NTSB
and FAA were quickly on the scene and we
are working closely with them to aid in the
investigation. As soon as we receive some
additional information, we will release it via
the website.
The ultimate question remains, where
does the Liberty Foundation go from here?
After the investigation and recovery, we will
determine our options. We are still commit-
ted to the restoration and flying of World War
II aircraft. Again, we appreciate the support
and people offering to help get us back fly-
ing.
Please check back for updates. I will close
by thanking everyone that made our tour so
successful. From the first day of the B-17s
restoration, thank you for all of you who la-
bored to get her flying over the initial
restoration years and to everyone that has
worked on her out on tour since. Thank you
to the crewmembers, tour coordinators and
volunteers who gave up weekends and
countless hours to support her on the road.
And finally, thank you to the passengers,
donors and media patrons that flew aboard
and everyone who supported our cause.
Hopefully, this will not be the end of the
story, but a new beginning.
n Find out more about the Liberty Belle Foundation online at:www.libertyfoundation.org
While the leading newsstories have repeatedlyreported the crash ofour B-17, fact is they
made a successfulforced landing and theaircraft was ultimately
consumed by fire.Airplanes are
replaceable but peopleare not and while the
aircrafts loss is tragic, itwas a successful result
Ray Fowler on the decisiveactions of John Hess and Bud Sittic
at the controls of Liberty Belle
Tragedy struck the B-17 com-
munity this summer with the
loss of The Liberty Founda-
tions B-17G Liberty Belle during aflight in the Chicago area. While early
reports erroneously labeled the incident
as a crash landing, we thought it best to
set the record straight. The following ex-
plaination by Chief Pilot Ray Fowler
was published on the foundations web-
site and is an excellent summary of the
situation as it unfolded.
June 14, 2011 - First, let me start off by
sincerely thanking everyone for the outpour-
ing of support that we are receiving. ... I
hope this statement will help fill in a few de-
tails that everyone is wondering about that
led to the loss of our Liberty Belle.
Yesterday (June 13, 2011) morning, both
our P-40 and B-17 were scheduled to fly
from Aurora, Illinois to Indianapolis, Indiana.
We were in Aurora for the weekend as a part
of our scheduled tour. Over the course of the
previous week, we completed a scheduled
25-hour inspection on the B-17 which was
completed by Saturday. On Saturday, the
weather stayed below the required ceiling to
give any passenger flights, however the B-17
flew in the morning on a routine training pro-
ficiency flight, performing several patterns.
Following the flight, other maintenance is-
sues arose that required us to cancel our
Sunday flying schedule for repairs. The main-
tenance performed has not been, in any way,
associated to the chain of events that led to
Mondays fateful flight, but is being consid-
ered in the preliminary investigation.
However, due to the medias sensational
(mis)reporting, there is a large amount of
misinformation that continues to lead the
news.
Here is what we do know Flying in the
left seat of the B-17 was Capt. John Hess.
John has been flying our Liberty Belle since
2005 and one of our most experienced B-17
pilots. He is an active Delta Air Lines Captain
with over 14,000 hours of flying experience
and flys a variety of vintage WWII aircraft. In
the right seat was Bud Sittic. While Bud is
new to the Liberty Foundation this year, he is
also incredibly experienced with more than
14,000 hours of flying time in vintage and
hi-performance aircraft. He is a retired Cap-
tain with Delta Air Lines.
The news misidentified the P-40 as flying
chase during the accident. I was flying our P-
40, however I had departed 20 minutes prior
to the B-17s takeoff on the short flight to In-
dianapolis to setup for the B-17s arrival. The
aircraft flying chase was a T-6 Texan flown by
owner Cullen Underwood. Cullen is one of
our rated B-17 Captains and an experienced
aviator tagging along as a support ship.
The takeoff of both aircraft was uneventful
and proceeded on-course southeast. Prior to
exiting Auroras airport traffic area, the B-17
crew and passengers began investigating an
acrid smell and started a turn back to the air-
port. Almost immediately thereafter, Cullen
spotted flames coming from the left wing and
reported over the radio that they were on
fire.
As all pilots know, there are few emer-
gency situations that are more critical than
having an in-flight fire. While an in-flight fire
is extremely rare, it can (and sometimes
does) indiscriminately affect aircraft of any
age or type. In-flight fires have led to the
loss of not only aircraft, but often can result
in catastrophic loss of life. It requires an im-
mediate action on the flight crew, as the in-
tegrity of aircraft structure, systems and criti-
cal components are in question.
4 4 7 t h B G N E W S L E T T E R J 12 J 2 0 1 1 S U M M E R I S S U E
FINALMISSIONT H E W O R L D L O S E S B - 1 7 L I B E R T Y B E L L E
Stev
e H
eeb
The Liberty Belle
at Boeing Field
in Seattle,
Wash., on April
30, 2011, just
six weeks before
she was
consumed by fire
in Illinois.
Due to the mediassensational
(mis)reporting, there isa large amount of
misinformation thatcontinues to lead the
news. Ray Fowler on truth about the
loss of B-17 Liberty Belle
4 4 7 t h B G N E W S L E T T E R J 14 J 2 0 1 1 S U M M E R I S S U E 4 4 7 t h B G N E W S L E T T E R J 15 J 2 0 1 1 S U M M E R I S S U E
Give a friend orfamily memberthe gift of 447th
membership!Purchase an annual
membership to the
447th Bomb Group for
a family member or
friend today!
Form on page 15.
NEWMEMBERSG R O W I N G T H E 4 4 7 T H B G A S S O C I A T I O N
MEMORIESCONTRIBUTIONSS U P P O R T I N G T H E 4 4 7 T H B G A S S O C I A T I O N A N D O U R V E T E R A N S
Balsley, Elaine 2nd Gen OH
Chase, Brad 3rd Gen TX
Culver, William Veteran NY
Everson, Doreen 2nd Gen GA
Feldman,Melanie 2nd Gen NY
Heimrich, George B. 2nd Gen VA
Heimrich, George B. III 2nd Gen VA
Hines, David M. 3rd Gen AL
Knutson, Craig 2nd Gen NV
Knutson, Eric 2nd Gen NV
Logan, Jock 3rd Gen TX
Maupin, R. Paul Friend AL
Moore, Chad W. 3rd Gen PA
Perkins, Gary 2nd Gen CA
Phillips, Gary W. 2nd Gen CO
Phillips, Gerald W. 2nd Gen CO
Reinhart Jr, Donald H. 3rd Gen VA
Rose, Joan 2nd Gen MN
White, Ruth 2nd Gen WI
Name Connection State Name Connection StateIn memory ofBaker, John ..............................................Memory of Robert Adams
Beckum, Charles ................................Memory of William G. Russell
Graves, Verdon ..................................Memory of William G. Russell
B. C. Law ...........................................Memory of William G. Russell
General ContributionsArcher, William
Bigelow, Ed
Bitxer, John
Christensen, T. M.
Esterline, Milton A.
Fitzgerald, Thomas A.
Fitzpatrick, Sandra J.
Flaherty,William H.
Goff, Charles
Gude, Lila M.
Halsey, Robert H.
Henningsen, Eldon L.
Jameson J. M.
Jones, Donald W.
Knapp, Doland S.
Leferink, Albert
McCarthy, Raymod F.
Moody, Elrid
Moon, Arthur H.
Palko, LaVerne M.
Phillips W. I.
Shaw, William
Steiber, David L.
Thank you!Thank you!
447th Bomb Group Membership ApplicationYour name: __________________________ Spouse: ___________________
Address: _______________________________________________________
City:______________________ State: _______ ZIP ___________________
Telephone Number: (______)___________________
Email: _____________________________________
Relation to 447th : Veteran [__] Spouse [__] NexGen [___] ___________
Which Squadron: 708 [__] 709 [__] 710 [__] 711 [__] Your job:________
DUES are $20.00 per year. Please make checks payable to: 447th Bomb GroupTreasurer Dean Sassaman, 201 Jackpine Drive, Michigan City IN 46360-2713 (219) 874-5117 dean447@sbcglobal.com
MISSIONLOGSB O O K S I T H I N K Y O U L L F I N D O F I N T E R E S T
Mission to BerlinRobert Dorrs book Mission to Berlin: The American
Airmen Who Struck the Heart of Hitlers Reich fol-lows the many facets of a single mission during WWII.
After a healthy lead-in to set the scene, the book chroni-
cles the 8th AF mission of Feb. 3, 1945 through informa-
tion compiled from interviews and personal descriptions
made by everyone involved from air crews to ground
crews, both the bombers and their escorting fighter
groups.
Robert Dorr is an Air Force veteran and his book is
published by Zenith Press (Quayside Publishing Group).
Mitchell Rattlesden Heeb, great-grandson of
Loran Heeb (42-31582, Ol Scrapiron) strikes
a pose in the radio room of the B-17
Liberty Bell during its visit to Boeing Field in
Seattle, Wash., at the end of May.
Sadly the plane would perish only six weeks
later. A description of the incident with
Liberty Belle as told by chief pilot Ray Fowler
can be found on page 14 of this newsletter.
447TH BOMB GROUP, INC.
Membership Chairman
Dean Sassaman
201 Jackpine Drive
Michigan City, IN 46360-2713
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
CHECKSIXF I N A L P H O T O F O R T H E M O N T H
Last chance to see a piece of history
Phot
o by
Ste
ve H
eeb
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